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Miles pleased with new offense as LSU rolls up yardage

Glenn Guilbeau, USA TODAY Sports
7:58 p.m. EDT September 1, 2013

LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles celebrates a 37-27 win with his team against Texas Christian Horned Frogs in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night.(Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

LSU coach MIles pleased with hire of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who has deep NFL experience

Tigers rolled up 448 total yards in opener, 197 on the ground, 251 through the air

Tigers did not miss star tailback Jeremy Hill, as backups found room to run against TCU defense

ARLINGTON, Texas – "Way to go Mr. Cameron, way to go," LSU coach Les Miles said as he exited the press conference following his team's 37-27 victory over No. 20 TCU Saturday night.

He was thanking new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, whom Miles hired shortly after the 2012 regular season -- and Cameron was available after being fired as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator. Cameron, an NFL offensive coordinator for most of the previous decade, coached his first college game since he was Indiana's head coach in 2001.

There were some red zone and clock management issues, but Cameron's first act as LSU's play caller resulted in 448 total yards -- 197 on the ground, 251 through the air. There were five scoring drives of 66 yards or more. LSU had 19 third downs, and converted 13 of them as the Tigers collected 26 first downs. LSU possessed the ball for 12 minutes longer than TCU.

"I'd say we had a lot of poise tonight," center Elliott Porter said. "We didn't freak out when they did something different that we hadn't seen on film. We just came to the sideline and talked to the coaches. We could play a little faster, but we did play pretty good. We're only going up from here."

No. 12 LSU (1-0) next plays Saturday at 6 p.m. in Tiger Stadium against Alabama-Birmingham, which lost to Troy 34-31 Saturday night.

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger played similar to the way he did in his best game last season -- in a loss to No. 1 Alabama, he was 24 of 35 for 298 yards and a touchdown. Against TCU, the senior was 16 of 32 with a touchdown and no interceptions. He converted 8 of 14 third downs with a pass.

Odell Beckham Jr. (5 catches for 118 yards) and Jarvis Landry (8 for 109 and a touchdown) became the first two LSU receivers since Josh Reed and Michael Clayton against Kentucky in 2001 to both eclipse 100 yards receiving in the same game. Beckham's 118 yards receiving were the most by an LSU receiver in a season opener since Clayton had 152 against Louisiana-Monroe in 2003.

Not since Miles' first game as LSU's coach on Sept. 10, 2005, at No. 15 Arizona State, has an LSU offense performed so well in a season opener against a quality opponent. LSU's 448 total yards were its most since getting 472 in a 63-14 win over Idaho last season.

"That's what it's supposed to look like," Miles said. "Have a tall quarterback standing back there hitting his targets. We're throwing the ball for bigger plays. We're being able to convert on third downs. I think that's one of the real successes of the offense at this point."

Asked if this was what he had in mind when he hired Cameron, Miles said, "Yes, that's exactly right."

LSU turned it over only once and held the upper hand throughout the game, though it could not put the determined Horned Frogs (0-1) away.

"There were great things," Miles said. "We controlled the game the entire time. There are some things we need to fix. The things that we did right we need to do over and over again, and the guys can have the success they deserve."

LSU star tailback Jeremy Hill was held out for the entire game as Miles has continued to discipline the sophomore after Hill's misdemeanor simple battery arrest last April -- while he was on probation from a previous arrest. But LSU's running game did not seem to miss him.

Little-used junior tailback Terrence Magee led all rushers with 95 yards on 13 carries, including a 52-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter for a 23-10 lead. The Tigers led 16-10 at the half after new kicker Colby Delahoussaye's third field goal in three attempts.

"People inside this program root for Terrence Magee because he's just a great kid and works hard and has talent and ability," Miles said. "I liked our offensive line. They're getting better. They protected extremely well."

Senior Alfred Blue started at tailback and gained 89 yards on 19 carries, but his fumble on the LSU 6-yard line early in the fourth quarter helped TCU get back in the game. Two plays later, tailback Waymon James scored on a 5-yard run to get the Horned Frogs within 30-24. After a three-and-out possession by LSU, TCU cut it to 30-27 on a 39-yard field goal by Jaden Oberkrom with 7:35 to play in the game.

LSU immediately reversed TCU's momentum, however, as Beckham returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the TCU 25. On third-and-five, Mettenberger found Landry for a 20-yard touchdown to put it away at 37-27 with 6:09 to play.

"That was an emotional play," Miles said of Beckham's return. "That was something he wanted to give his team."

TCU would not go away as it fought off deficits of 6-0 in the first quarter, 13-3 in the second quarter, 23-10 in the third quarter and 30-17 in the fourth quarter.

"What a great ballgame," said TCU coach Gary Patterson, who sat out star defensive end Devonte Fields for the game because of team rules violations. "I enjoyed it, lot of fun, lot of great athletes on both sides of the ball for both teams. I don't think we'll play anybody that's going to be any more athletic than what we just played tonight."